Paula Radcliffe and Kara Goucher are cruising through their pregnancies. Learn how they stay fit before, during, and after the most exciting time of their lives.

PR: The last time when I was pregnant, I ran 5-Ks and 10-Ks for fun. Obviously you're never going to beat the buzz of winning. But it's a whole different race when you run with the pack. There are women who have different goals, and I liked being a part of that and that camaraderie. A couple of times I paced groups. It's fun to see a much more relaxed side of the sport. That's what we both love about running—that it's this whole big family and that it's fun.

KG: In this time away from racing, we've both taken advantage of that—to interact with people who, normally, as elite athletes we don't get to interact with. I've gotten to travel to different races to experience that. It's been really rewarding. It reminds you of why you started running in the first place. You meet people who are running because of their pure passion for it. It's been really fun to be a part of that other side of the sport.

How have people reacted toward you—and your bumps?

KG: I was at the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego, and I did a little talk and then met with people afterward. And there was a lot of belly-touching. I was like, Wow, we're that close? I love meeting people and they're so friendly; it's just something I'm not used to yet. It threw me for a loop. And then one of my neighbors pulled up the other day and she's like, "Make sure you don't lift anything—a friend of mine went into labor early because she lifted a box." I know she meant well, but she would drop dead if she could see me in the weight room, because I'm still squatting, and throwing medicine balls, and doing everything I did before. Some people are shocked. But our bodies are used to working hard, and I'm not doing as much as I normally did. It's just all relative.

PR: You feel like saying, I'm not sick. There's nothing wrong with me. I'm just pregnant. Even people I know really well will come up and say, "Are you still able to run a bit?" And then they'll see me on the track and say, "Should you be doing that?" And I'm like, yeah, 'cause if you look at how slow the times are compared to what they've been before, it's not really comparable at all. But at the same time, it is keeping me fit, it is good for the baby, and it makes me feel better.

KG: It's strange for people like us. We're always pushing ourselves to the next limit and people are asking that of us. So then to have people baby us and be like, "Well, you don't have to do this," it is a little frustrating. If I can't do it, I'll tell you. I mean, it's nice that people are concerned, but I'm okay, you know? Everything still works.

How hard was it to fit pregnancy into your careers?

KG: My husband and I have been married since 2001, and he wanted a child right away. We talked about having one after the Athens Olympics [2004]. But then we didn't make the team, so we said right after Beijing [2008 Olympics]. But I really wanted to run in New York, so he said okay, right after that [2008 New York City Marathon]. And then I wanted to run the Boston Marathon [2009]. I started to feel this angst, like I don't know if I'm really ready to have a baby. So I decided to run the World Championships [2009]. As soon as I ran that last race, I felt totally calm. There was no more doubt, no more anxiety. Paula said I did the right thing by waiting, because you never want to have that feeling of, I didn't allow myself to have this opportunity I've always wanted. I felt so at peace when we finally decided to do it. It was hard getting to that point, but when I did, it was very clear to me that it was the time.

PR: The big thing for me was that running is something that I love doing and I couldn't see an end to. But at the same time, I always saw myself as a mom, and I didn't ever want to sacrifice that. If I wasn't able to accomplish the goal I've had since I was a little girl, of being a mom, that would have just taken away any enjoyment that I've had through running. I never thought the desire to train hard and be competitive would die in me just because I had a child. What I actually found was that it increased it, really, because for me, if I'm happy and balanced in my life, then I run much better.